IV 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 402 

Supporting the European aspirations of the peoples of the European Union’s 

Eastern Partnership countries, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 12, 2013 

Mr. ENGEL (for himself, Mr. ROYCE, Mr. KEATING, and Mr. POE of Texas) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the European aspirations of the peoples of the 

European Union’s Eastern Partnership countries, and 

for other purposes. 

Whereas a democratic, prosperous, and stable Eastern Europe and Caucasus region is in the national interest of 

the United States; 

Whereas the stability and economic vitality of this region also 

is important to our allies in NATO and the European 

Union (EU); 

Whereas Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, 

and Belarus have to varying extents sought to strengthen 

their economic and political ties with the EU through 

participation in the EU’s Eastern Partnership program; 


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Whereas closer relations with the EU through the Eastern 

Partnership program will promote democratic values, 

good governance, and economic opportunity in the region; 

Whereas Ukraine may sign an EU Association Agreement, 

provided that it meets clear and essential EU conditions, 

and Moldova and Georgia may initial EU Association 

Agreements at the Eastern Partnership summit to be 

held in Vilnius, Lithuania, on November 28 and 29, 

2013; 

Whereas these EU Association Agreements contain free trade 

and other provisions that will create the conditions for 

greater economic growth and will strengthen democratic 

institutions and norms, bolster the rule of law, and reduce corruption in signatory states; 

Whereas the EU’s Eastern Partnership program and Association Agreements are voluntary associations; 

Whereas all sovereign states have the right to enter into voluntary partnerships of their choosing, in keeping with 

their interests and values; 

Whereas majorities of the populations of Ukraine, Moldova, 

Georgia, and other states in the region desire closer relations with the EU; 

Whereas the EU Association Agreements do not pose a 

threat to any nation, and all states in the region, including Russia, will benefit from the economic growth and increased rule of law and stability resulting from closer relations with the EU; 

Whereas Russia has sought to dissuade Ukraine, Moldova, 

Georgia, and Armenia from initialing or signing Association Agreements with the EU; 


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Whereas Russia has impeded some Ukrainian imports and 

banned the import of Moldovan wine; 

Whereas Russia has pressured Georgia, notably by erecting 

physical barriers along the Administrative Boundary 

Lines of the occupied Georgian regions of Abkhazia and 

South Ossetia, where Russian troops continue to be stationed despite a commitment in the 2008 ceasefire agreement to withdraw to pre-conflict positions; 

Whereas these actions contravene Russia’s commitments 

under the Helsinki principles of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Charter of Paris, and also call into question Russia’s World 

Trade Organization (WTO) commitments; 

Whereas the European Parliament on September 12, 2013, 

passed a resolution expressing support for the Eastern 

Partnership countries; 

Whereas the United States has long supported the European 

aspirations of the peoples of Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia, as well as the other Eastern Partnership countries; 

and 

Whereas the United States believes that deepening ties with 

the EU will benefit these states, the wider region, and 

Russia, and will represent a step forward toward the realization of the vision of a democratic Europe, whole, free, 

and at peace: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the European aspirations of the 

3 peoples of the Eastern Partnership countries; 

4 (2) recognizes the significant benefits to these 

5 and other countries in the Eastern Europe and 


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1 Caucasus region of closer economic and political ties 

2 with the EU, which will spur economic growth, 

3 strengthen democratic institutions and norms, and 

4 bolster the rule of law in the region; 

5 (3) supports the right of all sovereign states to 

6 enter into voluntary partnerships of their choosing, 

7 in keeping with their interests and values, and as 

8 enshrined in the OSCE’s Helsinki principles; 

9 (4) rejects the concept of spheres of influence 

10 which would divide the European continent; 

11 (5) calls on the Government of Russia to re12 spect the rights of states to make their own sov13 ereign choices with regard to international partner14 ships, including to sign Association Agreements with 

15 the EU; 

16 (6) applauds the significant progress Ukraine, 

17 Moldova, and Georgia have made in adopting demo18 cratic norms and standards, calls on these states to 

19 continue to implement necessary reforms, and urges 

20 Ukraine to address the remaining essential require21 ments for signing its Association Agreement with 

22 the EU: electoral and rule of law reforms and those 

23 related to selective justice, including the release of 

24 ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko; 


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1 (7) urges the Department of State to continue 

2 to work closely with our European partners and al3 lies to support the right of Ukraine, Moldova, and 

4 Georgia to enter into voluntary partnerships of their 

5 choosing, provided that any conditions are met; and 

6 (8) calls on the Department of State to con7 tinue to support reforms in all Eastern Partnership 

8 countries which will both help them meet the condi9 tions necessary for closer relations with the EU and 

10 which also make these states more democratic, pros11 perous, and secure. 

Æ 


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